De Rosario nets hat trick as D.C. United knocks Union out of Open Cup

View full sizePhiladelphia Union defender Sheanon Williams (left) lunges for a ball against D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario during the second half of an MLS soccer game on Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Washington. De Rosario scored three goals to lead United over the Union on Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup game.Associated Press photo

The Philadelphia Union were knocked out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday evening as the club fell to D.C. United, 3-1 in a fourth-round matchup played at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.

“Really disappointed in our performance tonight, in particular the way we started that game,” said Hackworth. “It was unacceptable on a lot of levels. I give full credit to D.C., they were good tonight and we knew they were going to bring it. At the same time, I certainly don’t think we brought our best.”

United who pounced first in the 24th minute when Dwayne De Rosario scored his first of three on the night, hitting a driven curler past the outstretched arms of Zac MacMath. De Rosario then scored his second in the 75th, when he finished off a nifty ball in from forward Lionard Pajoy, but Union goal scoring guru Jack McInerney brought one back just a minute later, finishing a low driven ball into the box from Don Anding to make the score, 2-1.

A big highlight for Philadelphia was the play of Anding, who entered as a left midfielder in the 67th minute, which shifted fellow second half substitute Leo Fernandes into center midfield. Anding had nice touches on the ball and sent a few crosses into the box that created dangerous chances.

“He certainly came on and had some great touches to help Jack get the goal,” Hackworth said of Anding. “He’s got great pace and athleticism, he just needs more time to develop.”

But in the 85th minute, De Rosario stifled all hope as a Union defensive lapse at the edge of the final third saw the future MLS Hall of Famer take a shot from close to midfield that rolled in behind Union goalkeeper MacMath, who was off his line.

“We were just caught sleeping,” said Union forward Sebastien Le Toux. “We came out and there was no intensity and we were running out of position and not defending [as a team] and it’s hard to play like that. We went after the score [in the second half]…but a lack of concentration didn’t help. We know we have to be better; no one is happy with this result, especially not me.”

What the Union also lost was a chance to host USOC quarterfinal play at PPL Park on June 26. Instead, it will be United who get a chance to move onto the semifinal round when it returns to the Maryland SoccerPlex to host New England, who were 4-2 winners over New York Wednesday night.